After choreographer <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-saroj-khan-defends-casting-couch-says-it-provides-livelihood-132433">Saroj Khan </a>and senior Congress leader Renuka Chowdhary, now actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha has said sexual favours are demanded in and given in both the entertainment and the political world. The actor has said that he may not approve it but one cannot deny the reality.

"Neither Saroj Khan nor Renuka Chowdhary is wrong. Sexual favours are demanded and given in both the entertainment world and in politics. It`s an old and time-tested way of getting ahead in life. `You please me I`ll please you`.

"This has been happening since time immemorial. What is there to get so upset about," Sinha was quoted as saying to a news agency.

Defending Khan, the actor said, "Saroj Khan`s contribution to choreography and to shaping the careers of Rekha, Madhuri Dixit and the late much-missed Sridevi, was invaluable. Saroj Khan is a legend in her own right.

"She often speaks from her heart and lets emotional correctness rule over political correctness. If she said that girls have to compromise sexually in Bollywood, she must be aware of what goes on."

Sinha himself does not deny the existence of the casting couch.

"I completely agree with both Saroj and Renuka. I know the kind of compromises girls have to make to get into films. Perhaps Sarojji has herself gone through her own pain and humiliation.

"As for politics, I don`t know what we can call the casting couch in politics maybe the casting-vote couch. Of course the young aspiring brigade is known to offer sexual favours and of course the senior brigade is known to accept.

"I am not saying it is right. I would never be part of such a compromise. But we cannot shut our eyes to the reality around us. Don`t condemn Sarojji for speaking the truth.

"Condemn those who create a situation where girls and boys feel they have to compromise to get ahead in life."

However, Sinha is quick to point out -- like Khan -- that the casting couch is a personal choice.

"What happens on the couch or wherever two people come together, is a matter of personal choice. No one is forcing any girl or boy to lie down on the couch. You have something to give and you are offering it to someone who is interested. Where is the coercion or compulsion?"

Shatrughan Sinha, like Saroj Khan and Renuka Chowdhary, stated that casting couch exists both in entertainment and politics.

After choreographer Saroj Khan and senior Congress leader Renuka Chowdhary, now actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha has said sexual favours are demanded in and given in both the entertainment and the political world. The actor has said that he may not approve it but one cannot deny the reality. "Neither Saroj Khan nor Renuka Chowdhary is wrong. Sexual favours are demanded and given in both the entertainment world and in politics. It`s an old and time-tested way of getting ahead in life. `You please me I`ll please you`. "This has been happening since time immemorial. What is there to get so upset about," Sinha was quoted as saying to a news agency. Defending Khan, the actor said, "Saroj Khan`s contribution to choreography and to shaping the careers of Rekha, Madhuri Dixit and the late much-missed Sridevi, was invaluable. Saroj Khan is a legend in her own right. "She often speaks from her heart and lets emotional correctness rule over political correctness. If she said that girls have to compromise sexually in Bollywood, she must be aware of what goes on." Sinha himself does not deny the existence of the casting couch. "I completely agree with both Saroj and Renuka. I know the kind of compromises girls have to make to get into films. Perhaps Sarojji has herself gone through her own pain and humiliation. "As for politics, I don`t know what we can call the casting couch in politics maybe the casting-vote couch. Of course the young aspiring brigade is known to offer sexual favours and of course the senior brigade is known to accept. "I am not saying it is right. I would never be part of such a compromise. But we cannot shut our eyes to the reality around us. Don`t condemn Sarojji for speaking the truth. "Condemn those who create a situation where girls and boys feel they have to compromise to get ahead in life." However, Sinha is quick to point out -- like Khan -- that the casting couch is a personal choice. "What happens on the couch or wherever two people come together, is a matter of personal choice. No one is forcing any girl or boy to lie down on the couch. You have something to give and you are offering it to someone who is interested. Where is the coercion or compulsion?"

Sexual favours happen in politics and cinema: Shatrughan Sinha on casting couch controversy

Congress leader and former Member of Parliament Renuka Chowdhury on Tuesday made a claim on the alleged culture of ‘casting couch’ that has often brought the Indian film industry under attack.&nbsp;

Chowdhury said that the ‘casting couch’ exists in the Parliament as well.&nbsp;

"It is not just in the film industry. It happens everywhere and it is the bitter truth. Don't imagine that Parliament is immune or other workplaces are immune to it. It is time that India stood up and said #MeToo," Chowdhary said.

Earlier in the day, &nbsp;Veteran choreographer Saroj Khan has defended the casting couch culture, saying the Indian film industry “at least” provided jobs and did not abandon women after raping them.

In comments that come in the wake of the #MeToo campaign which calls out sexual offenders, Ms Khan put the onus on the woman and said the casting couch was not a new phenomenon with “anyone and everyone”, including people in the government, indulging in it.

The 69-year-old choreographer made the remarks in response to a question from a journalist in Sangli on Telugu actor Sri Reddy stripping in protest against the casting couch culture in the Telugu film industry.

"This is going on from 'Baba Adam's times', it is not new. Someone or the other always try to take an advantage of a girl. The government officials do it too, then why are we only behind the film industry? It provides livelihood at least," she said.

"Does not rape and leave you. It is up to the girl, what she wants to do. If you don't want to fall into wrong hands, you won't. If you are talented, why would you sell yourself? Don't blame the film industry's name, it is everything to us, she added."

Further putting her view forward, she said as to why would anyone want to sell herself if she is confident about her talent. 
 
(With inputs from ANI)

"It's time India also stands up and says #MeToo," Renuka Chowdhury said.

Congress leader and former Member of Parliament Renuka Chowdhury on Tuesday made a claim on the alleged culture of ‘casting couch’ that has often brought the Indian film industry under attack. Chowdhury said that the ‘casting couch’ exists in the Parliament as well. "It is not just in the film industry. It happens everywhere and it is the bitter truth. Don't imagine that Parliament is immune or other workplaces are immune to it. It is time that India stood up and said #MeToo," Chowdhary said. Earlier in the day, Veteran choreographer Saroj Khan has defended the casting couch culture, saying the Indian film industry “at least” provided jobs and did not abandon women after raping them. In comments that come in the wake of the #MeToo campaign which calls out sexual offenders, Ms Khan put the onus on the woman and said the casting couch was not a new phenomenon with “anyone and everyone”, including people in the government, indulging in it. The 69-year-old choreographer made the remarks in response to a question from a journalist in Sangli on Telugu actor Sri Reddy stripping in protest against the casting couch culture in the Telugu film industry. "This is going on from 'Baba Adam's times', it is not new. Someone or the other always try to take an advantage of a girl. The government officials do it too, then why are we only behind the film industry? It provides livelihood at least," she said. "Does not rape and leave you. It is up to the girl, what she wants to do. If you don't want to fall into wrong hands, you won't. If you are talented, why would you sell yourself? Don't blame the film industry's name, it is everything to us, she added." Further putting her view forward, she said as to why would anyone want to sell herself if she is confident about her talent. (With inputs from ANI)

Watch: 'Casting couch’ exists everywhere, even Parliament not immune, claims Renuka Chowdhury

Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/renuka-chowdhury-interrupts-modis-speech-spat-follows-8231"> &quot;Ramayana&quot; jibe </a>at her in Parliament, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury today said there was no GST on laughter and that she did not need anyone&#39;s permission to laugh.

She also said that Modi&#39;s remarks against her showed his mindset towards women.

The former Union minister said she received a huge support from women across the country after Modi&#39;s remarks over her laughter.

&quot;There were hashtags like #Laugh like Surpankha, #Lol is a passe and #Laugh Like Renuka Chowdhury.

&quot;I am a five-time MP and the prime minister draws a parallel of me with a negative character. But he forgets that the women today have changed and they know how to speak for themselves. This shows his mindset towards women,&quot; she told reporters.

Chowdhury was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the &quot;Difficult Dialogues&quot; conference on gender here.

The MP said people&#39;s support had been her base throughout her public life.

&quot;If you are right, it resonates all over. That&#39;s what is happening now...There is no rule on how and when. You laugh...And there is no GST on laughter. I don&#39;t require permission to laugh after being a five-time MP. I have shattered the myth of being stereotyped,&quot; she added.

On a lighter note, Chowdhury said her laughter had always been spontaneous but now, she had become conscious about it.

&quot;I had challenged the authority with my laughter. Parliament makes laws, but we need to educate the lawmakers on how to treat women as their equals and that they are here in their own rights.&nbsp; 
Parliament is a reflection of what our society is,&quot; she said.

Chowdhury added that she had challenged the authorities years ago by performing her father&#39;s last rites.

&quot;My father had raised me as a citizen of this country and not as a boy or a girl,&quot; she said.

Last week, the prime minister had taken a dig at Renuka Chowdhury in the Rajya Sabha, saying her laughter reminded him of television serial &quot;Ramayana&quot;.

As Chowdhury laughed loudly during the prime minister&#39;s speech, prompting Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to chide her, Modi had urged Naidu not to act against her as he had the privilege of hearing such a laughter after the popular television serial, which was first aired in the 80s.

Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his 'Ramayana' jibe at her in Parliament, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury today said there was no GST on laughter

Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "Ramayana" jibe at her in Parliament, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury today said there was no GST on laughter and that she did not need anyone's permission to laugh. She also said that Modi's remarks against her showed his mindset towards women. The former Union minister said she received a huge support from women across the country after Modi's remarks over her laughter. "There were hashtags like #Laugh like Surpankha, #Lol is a passe and #Laugh Like Renuka Chowdhury. "I am a five-time MP and the prime minister draws a parallel of me with a negative character. But he forgets that the women today have changed and they know how to speak for themselves. This shows his mindset towards women," she told reporters. Chowdhury was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the "Difficult Dialogues" conference on gender here. The MP said people's support had been her base throughout her public life. "If you are right, it resonates all over. That's what is happening now...There is no rule on how and when. You laugh...And there is no GST on laughter. I don't require permission to laugh after being a five-time MP. I have shattered the myth of being stereotyped," she added. On a lighter note, Chowdhury said her laughter had always been spontaneous but now, she had become conscious about it. "I had challenged the authority with my laughter. Parliament makes laws, but we need to educate the lawmakers on how to treat women as their equals and that they are here in their own rights. Parliament is a reflection of what our society is," she said. Chowdhury added that she had challenged the authorities years ago by performing her father's last rites. "My father had raised me as a citizen of this country and not as a boy or a girl," she said. Last week, the prime minister had taken a dig at Renuka Chowdhury in the Rajya Sabha, saying her laughter reminded him of television serial "Ramayana". As Chowdhury laughed loudly during the prime minister's speech, prompting Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to chide her, Modi had urged Naidu not to act against her as he had the privilege of hearing such a laughter after the popular television serial, which was first aired in the 80s.

No GST on laughter, don't need permission to laugh: Renuka Chowdhary